Fluid pump



Dec. 13, 1966 J. P. MALEC 3,291,350

FLUID PUMP Filed Nov. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l flin 2 Sheets-Sheet f3 /NVEA/To@ JE/PRs//Q/VALEC 9 BV FLUID PUMP l zg'. 6

Dec. 13, 1966 Filed Nov. 5 1963 3,291,350 FLUID PUMP Jerry P. Malec, 3125 S. 41st St., maha, Nebr. Filed Nov. 5, 1963. Ser. No. 321,619 10 Claims. (Cl. 222-313) This invention relates to pumps and more particularly to fluid pressure pumps capable of discharging the matter with sufficient force to meet the requirement at hand.

The general use of pressure pumps is old, and this is especially true of so-called grease guns for ejecting viscous matter such as grease lubricants and which must be ejected with such force that the matter is forced to and into the mechanism to be lubricated. Such pump devices, in general, consist of a straight piston and cylinder with the piston connected to a levarge linkage. The chief objection to such devices is that it is most diiiicult to properly lill the cylindrical cavity with the lubrican-t prior to the forward stroke of the piston. Another objection to the herebefore devices was the lack of high pressure particularly at or near the end of the stroke of the piston.

Therefore one of the principal objects of my invention is to provide la fluid pump that will successfully fill its matter cavity even if the matter to be ejected is relatively stiff.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fluid pump means that exits the dischargeable matter with great force.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a highly efficient fluid pump of few movable parts.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide a fluid pump that is economical in manufacture and durable 1n use.

These and othe robjects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrate-d in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side `View of one form of my fluid pump with sections cut away to more fully illustrate its construction;

FIG. 2 is a top plan sectional view o-f the fluid pump shown in FIG. 1, and is taken on line 2-2 of that figure;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a different form of structure of -my fluid pump with sections cut away to more fully illustrate its construction;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view in section of still a different form of structure of my fluid pump.

FIG. 5 is a side View of a still different form of structure of my fluid pump and with sections cut away to more fully illustrate its construction;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side section-al view of the piston bypass means as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of still another form of structure of my fluid pump, with sections cut away to show its construction; and

FIG. 8 is a side View of still another form of structure of my fluid pump with sections cut away to more fully illustrate its construction.

In these drawings I show the piston manually actuated. However, the piston may be reciprocated by any suitable means. I have used the numeral 1i) to designate the fluid reservoir container. Usually such containers have a plunger 11 slidably mounted in the container and below the matter to be used. The plunger is usually moved forwardly by a rod 12 threaded through the rear end of the nited States Patent Office lgl@ Patented Dec. 13, 1966 container and as shown in FIG. 1. By the use of the plunger 11, the matter such as grease is forced toward the exit end of the container where it is drawn or forced into the pump means. My pump device is detachably secured to the open exit end of the container by a hollow dome shaped base fixture 13 threaded onto the exit end portion of the container, as shown in FIG. l.

The cylinder portion of my pump and which is generally designated by the numeral 15 extends horizontally through and is secured onto the fixture fitting 13. This cylinder 15 `has an enlarged rear bore 16, and a somewhat smaller diameter centrally positioned tbore 17. The bore 17 has its rear end communicating with the forward end of the bore 16, and due to the difference in diameters of the two bores, a shoulder 19 is crea-ted at the forward end of the bo-re 16. The numeral 2t) designates a third bore in the cylinder housing 15, positioned in the forward end area of the cylinder housing, and has its rear end communicating with the forward end of the bore 17. This bore 2li has a diameter substantially less than that of the diameter of the bore 17 and therefore a shoulder 21 exists at the forward end of the bore 17. All three bores, 16, 17 and 20 are in line positions. In the extreme forward end of the cylinder housing is an exit well 22 having a passageway 23 connecting it with the forward end of the bore 20. The passageway 23 is closed by a one way spring loaded ball check valve 25. This ball valve yieldingly permits matter to pass from the bore 2@ into and through the exit well, but prevents all matter including air from passing back through the exit Well into the bore 2t).

The bore 20 is substantially smaller in diameter than the bore 17 for two reasons, i.e. the smaller bore 20 provides with its piston great hydraulic pressures and the larger bore 17 makes possible a relatively large inlet passageway 26 communicating with the inside top of the container 10 and the inside of the bore 17. This relatively large passageway 26, is highly necessary to get sufficient heavy grease or like from the container 10 into the bores 17 and 20. Therefore by the construction of my pump means I obtain the two desirable advantages of first the volume filling of the bores 17 and 20, and secondly the exiting of the stiff matter from the pump device with great force. To obtain. these desired results present a problem and that is to take care of the remaining grease or like in the bore 17 after the smaller piston enters the smaller bore 20. Thus one of the important features of my device is the removal of the matter in the bore 2t) after the smaller piston has entered the bore 20. I have shown several systems to accomplish this, vand which I will now describe in detail. The piston means consists of three joined, in line, pistons. The rear and larger piston 27 reciprocates in the bore 16, the somewhat smaller piston 29 reciprocates in the bores-17 and 16, and the smaller piston 30 reciprocates in the bores Ztl and 17, as shown in FIG. l. Due to the difference between the diameters of the pistons 27 and 29 a shoulder 31 is created. A return coil spring 32 embraces the rear portion of the piston 29, having one end engaging the shoulder 19 and its other end engaging the shoulder 31. Any suitable means may be used to reciprocate the piston assembly. In the drawings I show a grip member 33 on the rear of the cylinder housing 15, a grip lever 35 pivoted to the piston 27 and the linkage 36. The linkage 36 is operatively pivoted to the fixture 13. An O-ring 37 embraces the forward end portion of the piston 29. The forward movement of the piston assembly pushes the matter forwardly in the bores 17 and 20. The passageway 26 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is located a substantial distance to the rear of the bore 20. A slot 39 is formed in the forward top end portion of the piston 30 to permit matter to still be passing into the bore 20 as the piston distance from the forward end of the piston 29.

30 initially enters the bore 20. Once however the piston 30 is well into the bore 20, the remaining matter in the bore 17 must be removed to permit the continued forward movement of the piston 29. In FIG. l, I show a relief passageway 4t) in the rear area of the piston 30 and the piston 29. This passageway 40 extends from the rear side of the piston 30, thence rearwardly and out the bottom side of the piston 29 at a point a substantial By this structure, after the piston 30 has entered the bore 20, and as the piston 29 moves forwardly, the matter forward of the shoulder of the piston 29 will escape back through the passageway 40 to the entrance passageway opening 26. Areceiving circular groove 41 is formed in the bottom wall of the bore 17 and communicates with the passageway 26.

In FIG. 3, I show an alternate structure. Adjacent the rear end of the bore 20 and in the wall of the bore 17 is a passageway 42 communicating with the inside top of the container 10. A one-way valve means is associated with this passageway 42, and consists of a detachable cage 43 threaded to the pump unit, a valve 45 and a spring 46. This one-way valve means yieldingly permits matter in the bore 17 to return to the container 10, but prevents any matter including air from passing through the passageway 42 into the bore 17.

FIG. 4 shows still another alternate structure. The piston 29 is yieldingly capable of permitting the piston 30 to move forwardly independent of the piston 29. This is accomplished by extending the smaller piston 30 to the rear and to the piston 27, and slidably mounting a sleeve piston 29A around the long small piston 30. A coil spring 47 embraces the rear area of the piston 30 and has one end engaging the sleeve piston 29A and its other end engaging the shoulder 31 for yieldingly holding the sleeve piston 29A forwardly. By this structure, when the sleeve piston experiences resistance from the trapped matter in the bore 17, the sleeve piston may remain stationary while the piston 30 moves forwardly in the bore 20. Spring retaining washer 49 is secured to the piston 30 a substantial distance from its forward end to limit the forward sliding of the sleeve 29A. The sleeve 29A is free to move rearwardly against the spring 47 should it encounter trapped fluid in the bore 17 during the forward movement of the piston 30. The sleeve 29A fits tightly around the piston 30 upon which it slides.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, I show still another alternate form of structure. In the passageway 40 of FIGS. 1 and 2, I impose .a one way spring loaded ball valve, consisting of the ball valve 50, its shoulder seat 51, and the coil spring 52. This valve means permits trapped matter to flow from the bore 17 back into the container 10, but prevents any matter including air from passing into the bore 17 through the passageway 40.

In FIG. 7, I show 4still another alternate structure. A rearwardly cut slit 53 is formed in the lower forward end portion of the piston 29, and the O-ring 37 is moved a substantial distance to the rear. Trapped matter may escape back through this slit 53.

In FIG. 8, I show `still another alternate structure. The entrance passageway 26 is moved forwardly to a position just to the rear of the `bore 20. By this structure the trapped matter may pass directly back into the container through the sarne passageway opening from which it came.

In the structures shown in FIGS. l, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the early forward movement of the piston 29, also acts as .a movable valve means for closing the inlet port passageway 26, and thereafter any relief of matter in the bore 17 must be through the relief means.

In all forms of structure shown, it is recommended that the cylinder extend through the hollow dome shaped base fixture 13. By this arrangement of parts the grease or like in the container 10 is in direct contact with and around that part of the cylinder 15 that is within the hollow fixture 13. The means that the grease or like is directly fed from the container 10 to the inlet port 26 of the cylinder. Furthermore, the inlet port 26 may be relatively large to facilitate the entrance of stiff matter into the cylinder 15.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that I have provided a pump means that will handle relatively stiff matter and at the same time will exit the same with great force.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my fluid pump without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a iiuid pump means,

a housing having a first bore and second bore having its rear end communicating with the forward end of said first bore; said second bore having a diameter less than that of the diameter of said first bore, a matter eXit port in said housing communicating with the forward end area of said second bore, a matter inlet port in said housing communicating with the inside of said first bore, a first piston slidable in said first bore, a second piston connected to said first piston and capable of entering and sliding in said second bore, means for reciprocating said pistons, and a means for the relief of trapped matter in said first bore after said second piston has entered said second bore; said means for the relief of trapped matter comprising in part a relief passageway in said first piston in communication with said matter inlet port.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said relief passageway extends from adjacent said second piston along a substantial length of said first piston.

3. The structure of claim 2 and a one-way valve means is provided in said matter exit port.

4. In a fluid pump means,

a housing having a first bore and second bore having its rear end communicating with the forward end of said first bore; said second bore having a diameter less than that of the diameter of said first bore, a matter exit port in said housing communicating with the forward end area of said second bore, a oneway valve means in said matter exit port, a matter inlet port in said housing communicating with the inside of said first bore, a first piston slidable in said first bore, a second piston connected to said first piston and capable of entering and sliding in said second bore, means for reciprocating said pistons, a means for the relief of trapped matter in said first bore after said second piston has entered said second bore; said means for the relief of trapped matter comprising in part a relief passageway in said first piston in communication with said matter inlet port, and a one-way valve means in said relief passageway.

5. In a iiuid pump means,

a housing having a first bore and second bore having its rear end communicating with the forward end of said first bore; said second bore having a diameter less than that of the diameter of said first bore, a matter exit port in said housing communicating with the forward end area of said second bore, a matter inlet port in said housing communicating with the inside of said first bore, a first piston slidable in said first bore, a second piston connected to said first piston and capable of entering and sliding in said second bore, a slot in the forward end area of said second piston extending longitudinally rearwardly of said forward end, means for reciprocating said pistons, and a means for the relief of trapped matter in said first bore after said second piston has entered said second bore.

d. In a fluid pump means,

housing having a first bore and second bore having its rear end communicating with the forward end of said first bore; said second bore having a diameter less than that of the diameter of said first bore, a lmatter exit port in said housing communicating with the forward end area of said second bore, a oneway valve means in said matter exit port, a matter inlet port in said housing communicating with the inside of said first bore, a first piston slidable in said first bore, a second piston connected to said first piston and capable of entering and sliding in said second bore, means for reciprocating said pistons, a means for the relief of trapped matter in said first bore after said second piston has entered said second bore; said means for the relief of trapped matter comprising in part a relief passageway in said first piston in communication with said matter inlet port, a one-way valve means in said relief passageway, and a matter container having its inside communicating with s-aid matter inlet port.

In a fluid pump means,

housing having a rst bore and second bore having its rear e-nd communicating with the forward end of said first bore; said second bore having a diameter less than that of the diameter of said first bore, a matter exit port in said housing communicating with the forward end area of said second bore, a one-way valve means in said matter exit port, a matter inlet port in said housing communicating with the inside of said first bore, a first piston slidable in said first bore, a second `piston connected to said first piston and capable of entering and sliding in said second bore, means for reciprocating said pistons, a means for the relief of trapped matter in said first bore after said second piston has entered said second bore; said means for the relief of trapped mat-ter comprising in part a relief passageway in said first piston in communication with lsaid matter inlet port, a one-way valve means in said relief passageway, a matter Icontainer having its inside communicating with said matter inlet por-t, and a means engaging said `matter on the opposite side thereof from said inlet port for forcing matter from said container through said inlet port and into said bores.

In a fluid pump means,

housing having -a first bore and second bore having its rear end communicating with the forward end of said first bore; said second bore having a diameter less than that `of the diameter of said first bore, a matter exit port in said housing communicating with the forward end area of said second bore, a matter inlet port in said housing communicating directly with the inside of said first bore, a first piston slidable in said first bore, a second piston connected to said first piston and capable of entering and slid* ing in said second bore, said second piston being retracted from said second bore during part of each cycle of operation, means for reciprocating said pistons, and a means for the relief of trapped mater in said first bore after said secon-d piston has en- 6 tered said second bore; said matter inlet port being located at the forward end of said first bore and at the rear end of said second bore.

In a fluid pump means, housing having a first bore and second bore having its `rear end communicating with the forward end yof said first bore; said second bore having a diameter less than that of the diameter of said first bore, a matter exit port in said housing communicating with the forward end area of said second bore, `a matter inlet port in said housing communicating with the inside of said first bore, a firist piston slidable in said first bore, a second piston slidably connected to said -first piston and capable of entering and sliding in said second bore, means for reciprocating said pistons, spring means for yieldably holding said second piston in a position withdrawn from said second bore, and a means for the relief of trapped matter in said first bore after said second piston has entered said second bore, said second piston having a rod portion extending through said first piston, a second spring means for yieldably urging said first piston forwardly towards said second bore, said first and second spring means being teleseopingly mounted on said rod portion on the opposite side of said first piston from said second bore.

10. In a liuid pump means, a housing having a first bore and second bore having its rear end communicating with the forward end of said first bore; said second bore having a diameter less than that of the diameter of said first bore, a matter exit port in said housing communicating with the forward end area of sai-d second bore, a one-way valve means in said ymatter exit port, a matter inlet port in said housing communicating with the inside of said first bore, a first piston slidable in said first bore, a second piston connected to said first piston and capable of entering and sliding in said second bore, means for reciprocating said pistons, and a means for the relief of trapped matter in said first bore after said second piston has entered said second bore, said relief means including a passageway extending from adjacent said second piston along a substantial length of said first piston, said passageway along said first piston is formed by a longitudinal portion of said first piston being longitudinally dished out on its outer peripheral surface.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 833,457 10/1906 Hammond 103-37 1,046,073 12/1912 Joyce 103-11 1,883,281 10/1932 Zerk Z22-256 2,612,296 9/1952 Campbell Z22-385 2,833,449 5/1958 Morton 222-383 FOREIGN PATENTS 757,453 9/1956 Great Britain.

LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A FLUID PUMP MEANS, A HOUSING HAVING A FIRST BORE AND SECOND BORE HAVING ITS REAR END COMMUNICATING WITH THE FORWARD END OF SAID FIRST BORE; SAID SECOND BORE HAVING A DIAMETER LESS THAN THAT OF THE DIAMETER OF SAID FIRST BORE, A MATTER EXIT PORT IN SAID HOUSING COMMUNICATING WITH THE FORWARD END AREA OF SAID SECOND BORE, A MATTER INLET PORT IN SAID HOUSING COMMUNICATING WITH THE INSIDE OF SAID FIRST BORE, A FIRST PISTON SLIDABLE IN SAID FIRST BORE, A SECOND PISTON CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST PISTON AND CAPABLE OF ENTERING AND SLIDING IN SAID SECOND BORE, MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID PISTONS, AND A MEANS FOR THE RELIEF OF TRAPPED MATTER IN SAID FIRST BORE AFTER SAID SECOND PISTON HAS ENTERED SAID SECOND BORE; SAID MEANS FOR THE RELIEF OF TRAPPED MATTER COMPRISING IN PART A RELIEF PASSAGEWAY IN SAID FIRST PISTON IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID MATTER INLET PORT. 